Abandoned Hall
Does Abandoned Hall's ability trigger if the spell is countered?
No. Abandoned Hall's ability triggers "when a player plays a spell," and a countered spell is not considered played.
A card is only played once the entire play process has finished in its entirety.[350.1] Abilities that trigger on playing a card fire when that act has been completed by the card's resolution;[419.4.a] if a game effect prevents resolution — for example because the spell was countered — the card is not considered to have been played and no abilities that trigger on playing cards fire.[419.4.b] This follows directly from what countering does: a countered card is cleared from the chain and is not considered to have been played.[425.1.b]
Can a unit that moved into Abandoned Hall as part of a spell be chosen by Abandoned Hall's ability?
Yes, as Abandoned Hall's trigger fires after the spell has fully resolved and the move has already taken place.
A card is only considered "played" once the entire play process has finished,[350.1] which for spells means after all instructions have been executed and the card is placed in the trash. Abandoned Hall's triggered ability therefore fires after the spell resolves, not when it is placed on the chain.[383.2.c] By the time the trigger condition is met, the unit is already present at Abandoned Hall and is a valid choice for the buff.
Can a unit that moved away from Abandoned Hall as part of a spell be chosen by Abandoned Hall's ability?
No, as the unit is no longer at Abandoned Hall by the time the trigger fires.
For the same reason as above, Abandoned Hall's trigger is evaluated after the spell has fully resolved.[350.1][383.2.c] A unit that was moved away from Abandoned Hall as part of that spell's instructions is already gone when the condition is checked. It no longer qualifies as "a unit they control here" and cannot be chosen.
Can a unit replayed here by a spell be chosen by Abandoned Hall's triggered ability?
Yes. Spells like Arcane Shift and Thrill of the Hunt add the unit to the chain as a pending item during their own resolution, pausing its play process while the spell continues.[354.2][354.3] Abandoned Hall's triggered ability does not fire until the spell has been fully played,[350.1] so it is appended to the chain after the unit.[383.2.c] Because pending items are finalized in the order they were appended,[337.1.b] the unit is finalized and placed on the board first — resolving immediately on finalization[337.1.c] — before the triggered ability's target is chosen. By that point the unit is already present at Abandoned Hall and is a valid choice for the buff.
Resolution Sequence
Taking Arcane Shift as an example:
- "Banish a friendly unit" — the unit leaves the board
- Arcane Shift finishes resolving and is banished; the spell is now fully played[350.1]
- HOT — cleanups run; Abandoned Hall's trigger condition is evaluated after the spell was processed[383.2.c] and the triggered ability is appended to the chain as a pending item, after the unit
- Abandoned Hall's triggered ability is finalized next; you choose a target — the replayed unit is now present here and is a valid choice
How was this page?
Written by Christian I. (Near).
Last updated on .